Posts tagged ‘Bird Motifs’

Dec 23

Jorgen Mogensen, Bird Vase Form, Royal Copenhagen

Jorgen Mogensen Denmark

Jorgen Mogensen, Danish Potter (1927-2017 Denmark)

I believe Jørgen MOGENSEN is one of the 20th Century’s most important Danish potters and sculptors. I love the sculptural qualities of his work and the way he uses glazes to accentuate the textural quality of his pieces. His pieces are all beautifully formed – and nearly always quite heavy and sculptural.

Mogensen trained at the Art Craftsman School in Copenhagen, and then studied for a period in Paris. He started his professional career as a potters apprentice with Royal Copenhagen in 1949. He worked with iconic figures such as Knud Khyn, Axel Salto, Gerd Bogelund and Nils Thorsson in their “stoneware cellar” where this group worked at Royal Copenhagen.

His first work for Royal Copenhagen were his 1950s pieces of stylised bird motifs with a mottled brownish stoneware glaze – a similar glaze to which the other stoneware artists were using during this period. He rarely used other glazes or colours – but you can sometimes find a design in blues.

The pieces below are all pieces I have owned by Jorgen Mogensen. The first piece I had was the squared vase form, which I was so drawn to it eventually led me to discover a whole world of Danish Mid-Century pottery which I have been researching, learning and writing about ever since. Read more

Dec 8

Herluf Gottschalck-Olsen Studio Pottery Bowl

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G.O. Denmark – Herluf Gottschalck-Olsen

Herluf Gottschalck-Olsen, Denmark

It took a while to identify this Danish Studio potter – but as I have found in the past, things reveal their secrets eventually. With help from Maike of “DanishMood” on Etsy I was able to identify the maker of the wonderful stoneware piece pictured below.

Herluf Gottschalck-Olsen Studio Pottery Bowl

Herluf Gottschalck-Olsen Studio Pottery Bowl – Top View

I think that work by accomplished and experienced potters always stands out from the rest – and this is no exception with its rustic but refined charm, expert use of glaze, pattern, motif and skilled wheel throwing. It has a cream colours, brushed underglaze, with a deep turquoise overglaze – and the pattern as been drawn in the overglaze to reveal the colour beneath.

Dec 7

Marianne Johnson, Royal Copenhagen Tenera Series Bowl

Royal Copenhagen Mid-Century Bird Motif Designs

Royal Copenhagen Mid-Century Bird Designs

Bird designs and motifs were a prominent in the mid 20th century ceramics……and some of the best bird motif designs came from Royal Copenhagen//Aluminia, Denmark during the Nils Thorsson directed Baca and Tenera period of designs in the 1960s

Many of these designs featured blue colour schemes, and the designs seem to have been hugely popular going by the amount produced. Here are just some that I have come across featuring the colour blue and a bird motif.

Nils Thorsson, Bird Design Bowl, Royal Copenhagen Tenera Series

Royal Copenhagen Salt Box – Beth Breyen Design – This design by Beth has become on of the most recognisable of this period at Royal Copenhagen, and was featured on many forms.